Nine Soldiers Killed In Texas Flooding

Nine soldiers have been killed after a military truck overturned in Texas floodwaters following heavy rain. The Army said the bodies of four missing Fort Hood soldiers have been located after they were swept away in a rain-swollen creek during a training exercise.

Five other soldiers were earlier confirmed dead from the floods.

Fort Hood spokesman Chris Haug said a search was carried out after a two-and-a-half ton truck overturned in Owl Creek on the sprawling Texas army base.

Three soldiers were rescued and were in a stable condition in hospital.

The identities of the dead soldiers have not been released.

Parts of Texas have been affected by heavy rain in the last week and more than half of the state is under flood watches or warnings.

At least six people died last week in flooding in central and southeast Texas.

John Miller, a spokesman for Fort Hood, said the crossing was flooded after two days of heavy rain when the truck – a Light Medium Tactical Vehicle – was swept from the road.

The vehicle is a form of flatbed truck with a walled bed used to carry troops.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott said in a statement the state “stands ready to provide any assistance to Fort Hood as they deal with this tragedy”.

Forecasters have warned over a new batch of storms which could see up to 10 inches of rain through Saturday.

On Thursday night, LaPorte saw 4.36in of rain in just three hours.

Houston has also been hit by flooding in its northern suburbs and some 1,400 homes were affected in Fort Bend County, south-west of the city, after more heavy rain.

The storms are the latest in a string which has hit Texas since May 2015. Areas are overwhelmed with water just two years after drought conditions were declared in parts of the state.